How can I make sure animal charities are genuine?

There will be a registration number on their advertising which you can use to look them up.

Look for a registered charity number and then google it. You should be able to see if they’re filing proper accounts and financials for the last few years.
I’ve been stung a few times. A lot of these newer animal charities are bogus, and you are effectively donating to support other people’s pets.

Thank you Cornishpatsy. Further question : Is it okay for the charity to require my name and address(and possible some etceteras) when I make a one-off donation?

Not that I think anyone is keeping a bear as a pet !
And I think the cruelty involved is what you are concerned about is absolutely abhorrent!
Don’t the WWF work in this area ?

Good on you for having the heart to help.

Thanks also, Infinity2. (I can see how it might be rather fun to keep a herd of rescued animals .)

I’d like an alpaca myself but I’d be reported to the RSPCA for cruelty, as it would be blinded by my neighbours security lights.

Charities need to record some information about their donors, especially if they claim Gift Aid. I’d check as Cornishpatsy suggests.

I research the charity see what they are actively doing rather than spend their money on marketing. I briefly worked for a cancer charity the money wasted on marketing was more than actual cancer research. I have never supported the charity since.

I meant to say that I worked for an animal charity too and that did spend most of the money on the actual animals.

Caleo If you just put a cheque in an envelope and post it to them, then they cannot ask for your name and address even if they want to.

I'm trying to remember the name of a small charity which rescues bears - there was a programme on it last year on TV here in the UK.
They were a small charity but genuine, I think.

I'll try to remember.

I support various independent animal charities and PETA who do a lot of animal welfare work.

Free The Bears is the one I was thinking of.
freethebears.org/

Giles Clark of Tigers About the House fame made TV programmes last year:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kxyz

MOnica - you’re a genius. That’s the solution.

Callistemon, freethebears.org/done it thanks. I am specially impressed by their educational efforts at the sanctuary.

You can look them up on the Charities Commission website.

Look up Peter Egan on Facebook. He does a lot of work with bear charities and also rescuing dogs in China.

Caleo

Callistemon, freethebears.org/done it thanks. I am specially impressed by their educational efforts at the sanctuary.

The programmes were excellent but heartrending too.

Infinity2

MOnica - you’re a genius. That’s the solution.

But not if you want to gift-aid it.